Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books and Dani @ Literary Lion where we discuss certain topics, share our opinions, and spread the love by visiting each other’s posts. Join in on this meme by writing your own discussion on the topic, and sharing your link using the inLinkz that will be available on Dani’s blog each Friday. You can check out the current March prompts and past prompts, as well as submit your own suggestion for a discussion!
This week’s topic is:
BUYING SECONDHAND BOOKS
(submitted by Hasini @ Bibliosini
If you’re not a follower of Hasini, you should be!)
Prompts: Do you buy secondhand books? Why or why not? What are the benefits of buying secondhand? What are the cons of secondhand books? What do you recommend people do to better support secondhand bookstores?
The thrill of the hunt!
I LOVE to buy secondhand or used books! My favorite place to shop for books is resale shops. Or what we call thrift stores here in the states. I love the hunt, very much like a treasure hunt, for those elusive one of a kind finds or even just the mass market paperback I’ve yet to add to my collection.
One of my favorite things to do on vacation is visit the local thrift stores searching for books. I’m always envious of the larger book selections I find outside of my local area. One of my favorite discoveries (and best hauls) was at Savers in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Half Price Books
And when I can’t make it to the thrift stores—or I have a newer or specific book-want in mind—my first stop is Half Price Books, where they sell new and used books. (They do have an online store, as well.) The first HPB was the flagship store in Dallas, Texas, and I’m always super overwhelmed when I visit the massive location. (It’s also where they host book signings and talks with authors, among other things.) There are smaller and more manageable locations throughout Texas and now 18 other states, as well. It’s been my go-to bookstore for years. I love to peruse the clearance section for great finds, as well.
The only downside…
For me, the only downside to buying used books is the fact the money isn’t going to the author. In my younger days, when I couldn’t afford new books, especially while in college, buying used was necessary. Now that I’m more financially stable, I try to be mindful of supporting authors, buying new when I can. But for older books, I don’t feel too bad. It’s also better for the planet, which is very important. I also remind myself that by sharing books on the blog and on social media, I’m providing authors with free advertising, and that’s not something to shrug off.
Hopefully someday there will be a way for authors to get compensated for used book sales, as well. I was encouraged by this recent article on the topic!
Buy used – save the planet!
I know not everyone lives close to resale or used bookstores, but there are many online used bookstores, as well. Some of my favorites are Thriftbooks, Better World Books, Powell’s, The Strand, and Bookfinder to search for the best online deals. I think it’s important to support small businesses, as well as do what we can to be more eco-friendly.
But if you are able to visit a secondhand bookstore, and you’ve never given it a try, I challenge you to go! You may become addicted to the hunt like me!
Let’s Discuss!
Do you buy used books? Let me know in the comments!
I don’t usually buy second hand books…but I don’t usually buy physical copies either. I do take my physical copies to either Half Price Books or pass them on when I’m done with them if I don’t want to keep them. I don’t really love the smell of old books and don’t really even love library books unless they’re newer. I know that’s snobbish, but I think it comes from my late grandmother. She lived to be 104 and was a big reader. Never used the library. I think that came from being 8 or so during the last pandemic.
Makes perfect sense! I grew up going to thrift stores and used book stores with my mom so I know that’s why I enjoy it. 🙂 I don’t use the library much either (except for ebooks) because I have a hard time letting go of books. Haha. Collecting physical books is my one hobby. I find comfort and peace being surrounded by books. But I can completely understand the opposite view of having too much of a good thing. 😉
I do buy used book when I have the chance. However, I try not too buy too many books so usually if I can’t find what I’m looking for used I will buy new.
Yeah… the ‘too many books’ is the issue I’m constantly battling. Ha! It’s really my only hobby, so I try not to be too hard on myself. 🙂
I agree with your thoughts on buying books secondhand! And yes, when I was in college, pretty much the only way I could afford to buy books was at the used book store. Now that I have a steady job, I tend to restrict my used book purchases to out of print books, or sometimes ones that I had been planning to check out of the library but know I’ll need for longer than a couple weeks. But there really is nothing like the thrill of the hunt among the stacks!
I should use the library more… I have a hard time letting go of books. Ha! The thrill of the hunt is definitely one of the main motivating factors in my love of buying used. 🙂
I haven’t used the library regularly lately either. I’ll go in spurts where I request a ton of things, and then don’t go at all for months in a row.
I used to buy used books often. But now most of my reading is ebook or audiobook, so I don’t anymore.
Sadly, I probably buy just as many ebooks as I do physical books. It comes down to which one I find first or has the best price. But physical books are my hobby and I find so much joy and comfort in being surrounded by them. I’m not a big audiobook fan, though. I wish I were. 🙂
I love buying second hand books, but there are so few of those kinds of shops where I live, and some don’t have hardly any books in English. So, sometimes I’ll buy second hand online!
I love that there has been such an increase in online used bookstores! When I can’t find an older book I want in-store, I’ll usually look for it used online before I buy it new. When my mom gave me a list of older books she wanted but hadn’t been able to find, I was able to find them all at online used bookstores. It made a fun Christmas present!
That con about the authors not getting the money *totally* slipped my mind! That’s so true and that does make me sad, especially if it’s another I love and want to support! Great post, Dedra!
Hopefully someday they’ll be able to track that. It would make buying used even more popular and smart. 🙂
Used bookstores are the main place I visit to buy books! It is a lot more affordable and I love stumbling across books I’ve never heard of and maybe missed the popularity train
Yes! It’s so fun to discover something new, as well as books we’ve been waiting to pick up.
I do have a lot of used books and most are purchased at charity book sales, not stores. I agree, there is the downside of the authors not getting compensated, which is unfortunate. I donate my physical books to these types of sales when I finish them or to retirement homes.
Yes! What I can’t re-list on paperbackswap or take to Half Price Books, I donate. A local library has a free used book section where I’ll often take books, as well. Especially my physical ARCs I can’t find a home for.
Thanks for promoting my blog, Dedra!!! I am a huge secondhand bookshopper myself! Love discovering all the new secondhand bookstores whenever I travel!!!